Download SPEECH COMMUNICATION

Verbal and Nonverbal
Messages
Unit 1
Section 2
Vocabulary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Body language
Connotation
Cues
Denotation
Dialect
Intimate space
Jargon
Masking
Paralanguage
Personal space
•
•
•
•
Public space
Slang
Social space
Standard American
English
• sublanguage
Activity 1:
Nonverbal Cartoon
• Using the handout, write in each frame the
dialogue you think fits the depicted action.
• Observe expressions, postures, and
actions of the characters.
Comparing
Verbal and Nonverbal Language
VERBAL
MESSAGE
“That’s
hilarious.”
“Do it now!”
NONVERBAL
CUES
Smiling,
laughing
Pounding on
desk
No verbal
Nodding or
answer (in
shaking the
response to “Did head
you get the
tickets?”
“Great haircut
Spoken in an
you got there.”
unfriendly tone
FUNCTION
Complements
verbal message
Emphasizes
verbal message
Replaces verbal
message
Contradicts
verbal message
Activity 2: Exploring the Effects of
Verbal and Nonverbal Messages
• Think of a short verbal message to send to
a partner. (Ex. “I’ve got to leave now,”
“Please don’t say that.” “Where’d you get
that sweater?”)
• Express the same message verbally three
times.
• Each time, change your nonverbal
message to convey a different meaning.
Understanding Verbal
Language
• Analyzing Language
– Language is a system
– Language is symbolic
– Language is conventional
– Language is learned.
– Language changes.
Common Ways That
Language Changes
SOURCES OF CHANGE
EXAMPLES
Words come from other languages
Spanish: canyon, tornado
Native American: raccoon, persimmon
Chinese: typhoon, ketchup
Whole words are put together to create
new meanings
Busybody, downfall, lifesaving, videotape,
skateboard
Words are blended to create new
meanings
Smoke + fog = smog
Motor + hotel = motel
New words are needed for new objects
and ideas
Microchip, artificial intelligence, laser, killer bees
Meanings of words change
Meanings of nice over six hundred years:
“foolish,” “strange,” “lazy,” “modest,” “precise,”
“dainty,” and “pleasant”
ACTIVITY 3:
Exploring the Meanings of Words
• In a group of two or three, choose one of
the following words. Discuss what you
think the word means until your group can
agree on a definition. Check your
definition. Then find the earliest meaning
of the word.
• amuse
hobby
stew
• bread
silly
temper
• forlorn
Understanding Shades of
Meaning
• Denotation
– Dictionary meaning of a word
– Ex. Quarter = “1/4 of a dollar”; “area or section
of a city”
• Connotation
– Hidden meaning of a word, association that
the word arouse
– Ex. Dog, mother, etc
Adapting Language to
Specific Situations
• Standard American English
• Sublanguages
– Jargon
• Specialized vocabulary that is understood by
people in a particular group
– Slang
• Recently coined words or old words used in new
ways
– Dialect
• Regional or cultural variety of language differing
from SAE in pronunciation, grammar and word
choice
Sublanguages
Type
Examples
Appropriate
Use
Inappropriate
Use
JARG
ON
Television: sound bite,
talking head
Football: punt, nose guard,
goal
When speaking to
people in a
particular group
that uses that
jargon
When speaking
outside that
particular group
SLAN
G
Newly coined words: nerd,
hassle, bummer
Old words used in new
ways: awesome, hot, cool,
dude
When speaking in
informal situations
When speaking in
formal occasions
DIALE
CT
Pronunciation:
greassy/greazy
Dog/dawg
Grammar: you/ youse, y’all
Word choice: pail/ bucket,
When
communicating
with other who use
that dialect
When speaking
for formal
occasions
ACTIVITY 4:
Analyzing Slang
• Working with your group, make a list of 10 slang
expressions (CLEAN!) you hear frequently.
• Then ask your parents or grandparents for five
slang expressions they used when they were
young.
• Share with the class and compile two lists, one
of common slang expressions popular today and
one from the past.
• What expressions appear on both lists?
• What conclusions can we draw from this?
HOW TO
Use Language to Present
the Best Possible You
• Use words carefully
• Understand the connotations of words
• Use language that is appropriate to the
communication setting
• Improve your language
Analyzing Body Language
• Facial expressions
– masking
•
•
•
•
Eye contact
Gestures
Posture
Movement
Type
Communicating with Body
Language
Examples or
Functions
meanings
Facial
expression
Winking, making eye contact,
raising an eyebrow, smiling,
frowning, sneering
Can help show feelings or
substitute for or reinforce
verbal message
Eye contact
Looking the other person in the
eye while speaking or listening
Can indicate honesty,
sincerity, can demonstrate
intensity of interest
Gestures
Nodding, shrugging, pointing,
gesturing to show size, shape, etc.
Can replace words in some
messages; can emphasize
verbal message
Posture
Standing tall and sure; slumping
Can covey attitude, such
as confidence or dejection
Movement
Walking with a quick, lively step;
dragging the feet
Can enhance the
impression you want to
make
24 HOUR SILENCE
• Write about your experience during the 24
hour silence assignment.
• What was the most challenging part?
• What was the easiest part?
• What did you learn about yourself?
• What did you learn about how you
communicate?
ACTIVITY 5:
Using Body Language to Express
Emotion
• In a group of 5 or 6 people, act out a situation in
which each person uses body language to express
strong emotion.
• The situation could be stubbing a toe, dropping car
keys into a sewer, finding a dollar on the ground,
bringing home good (or bad) grades, or winning a
prize.
• Act out the scene for the class. ONLY NONSENSE
SYLLABLES ALLOWED. NO REAL WORDS.
• Analyze how the characters used body language to
covey the message.
Evaluating the Message Your
Appearance Sends
• Appearance can be interpreted by others
as a clue to your interests
• Appearance can be interpreted as
expressing a person’s attitude toward
another person, especially when a specific
kind of attire is expected.
• Appearance can be interpreted as a sign
of a person’s self-regard.
ACTIVITY 6:
Analyzing a Picture for Nonverbal
Cues
• With your team, study the picture you
brought without speaking.
• Then jot down three to five adjectives for
each photo, such as lively, warm,
sympathetic, etc.
• Discuss the similarities and differences in
your lists.
• Discuss why you chose the adjectives you
chose.
Analyzing Paralanguage
• Type of nonverbal communication that
involves using voice variation and nonword sounds to accompany a verbal
message.
• Three types:
– General sound of the speaker’s voice
•
•
•
•
Pitch
Volume
Rate
Quality or tone
Analyzing Paralanguage
– Speaker’s use of pauses
• Indicate uncertainty
• Create suspense
• Add emphasis
– Speaker’s use of non-word sounds
• Extraneous sounds such as “um”, “well,” “you
know” to fill gaps in spoken comments
• These are considered non-words when they have
no real meaning in the context of the verbal
message
ACTIVITY 7:
Using Paralanguage to
Communicate Meaning
• Copy this dialogue:
–
–
–
–
–
“How are you?”
“Great. How about yourself?”
“Just fine.”
“I’ve got to be going now.”
“I’ll catch you later.”
• Using paralanguage clues create three
scenarios
– 1st: speakers really like each other
– 2nd: speakers don’t particularly like each other but are
just being polite
– 3rd: speakers really dislike each other
Identifying How Environment
Affects Communication
• Color
– Some colors have a stimulating effect, while
others have a calming effect
• Lighting
– Low lighting vs. bright lighting
– Fluorescent lighting
• Sound
– Soft music vs. loud music
– Loud or distracting noises
Identifying How Environment
Affects Communication
• Space
– Intimate space
• Up to 18 inches between you and other people
• Reserved for family members and close friends
• Dictated by custom; may vary country to country
– Personal space
• 18 inches to 4 feet
• Most conversations with acquaintances
Identifying How Environment
Affects Communication
• Space
– Social space
• 4 to 12 feet
• Distance for interviews and formal conversations
– Public space
• Beyond 12 feet
• Public speeches, oral readings, etc.
ACTIVITY 8:
Analyzing an Environment
• Select three communication environments.
• Describe the color, lighting, sound, and
space in each environment.
• How do these features contribute to or
detract from the communication setting?
• How do these features differ from one
environment to another?
HOW TO
Use Nonverbal
Communication
Effectively
• Use body language that supplements what you
want to say.
• Make sure your appearance is in keeping with
what you want to accomplish.
• Make sure that the sound of your voice is in
keeping with your message.
• If possible, create an environment that is
suitable for the kind of communication you want.
Review Questions
Unit 1 Section 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
What are the functions of nonverbal communication?
Define verbal language. List five important features of it.
List four ways the English language changes.
What is the difference between denotation and
connotation?
5. Why is it important to communicate in Standard
American English? When is it appropriate to use
nonstandard English?
6. How can you improve your use of language?
7. What are five ways that body language communicates
messages?
8. What is paralanguage?
9. List and explain the four types of space, or distance,
that affect communication.